North American Birds is an absolutely fabulous CD-ROM for any bird lover out there. I know that bird watching is a very popular activity, and that many of you reading this, in fact, participate in it. I could skip all the praise right now and tell you to go out and buy this CD-ROM this minute, but I want to give you more reasons that simply my word. (Though it would be nice if that is all it took!)

Created for the most part by Cliff Lemen, this CD-ROM is very reminiscent of a FileMaker Pro database. Which, of course, is a very good thing. With North American Birds, you simply click buttons to access everything, from one central menu. (See illustration)

While you can take the guided tour to view and hear hundreds of birds, you can also select any particular bird you wish. From North American Birds, you can learn where your state bird goes in the winter, where he calls home during the warm months, what his bird song sounds like, and much more.

North American Birds was designed for ease of use, but also for the purpose of entertaining and teaching. Two important elements for any CD-ROM that will, I'm sure, find its way into quite a few classrooms.

With over 2,400 beautiful illustrations, and sporting more than 450 bird songs, this would be considered a great program. But Mr. Lemen and company did not stop at that. Also included are games, quizzes, and one of the best tutorials I have ever used. The tutorial is, in fact, Cliff Lemen himself talking you through the use of the CD-ROM. It is little touches like this that make the whole thing so worthwhile.